Road trip From Wai To Mumbai? Here Are Your Essential Stopovers

For those of us afflicted by eternal wanderlust and a desire to tread on the path less taken, road trips are a great way to combine both these elements. And this time we are headed to Wai from the straight from the Bollywood capital of India Mumbai.

Wai is located at a distance of nearly 231 kilometres from Mumbai and takes almost 4 hours and 30 minutes by road. And if you are planning to head to this charming yet quaint city in Maharashtra, we have you sorted with a list of pit-stops that you need to stop at before reaching Wai.

Surrounded by the majestic Sahyadri mountains, Lonavala is picture perfect in more ways than one. A must visit holiday destination, it might be done to death, but there is still quite a lot that this charming hill station has to offer to the travellers. The drive, once you escape the traffic jams and hit the highway is in itself worth the effort, thanks to the amazing scenic beauty and fresh air.

Once you reach Lonavala, there are four main places that you need to cover namely Lohagad fort, Bushy Dam, Tiger point and Rajmachi point. These four places can be covered in a span of four areas and there are two ways to approach them- either you can cover all the spots quickly or spend time at one or two and soak in the surroundings. The choice is all yours to make, fellow.

Stop 2: Pune For A Dose Of History

Dedicated to Lord Pataleshwar – the god of the underwater world and Lord Shiva, Pune is home to the Pataleshwar Caves. Carved out in the Rashtrakuta period, these caves date back to the 8th century. These caves are also known for its museum, which houses a grain of rice with 5,000 characters and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as well.

You can also check out Mulshi dam that is located West of Pune and might require a lit detour. But that being said, the splendid views will more than anything make up for the extra effort.

Situated on the Krishna River, Wai has a rich history that is steeped in both history and spirituality. With more than 100 temples and some really pretty locales, this is a quaint town that is far away from the chaos of a city. Popular as a film shooting location, some places in Wai that warrant a visit from you includes the Wai Caves, Mandhardevi temple {almost 400 years old}, Kashi Vishweshwar Mandir and the many Ghats that are scattered around this place as well.

In case you have more time on your hand, you can head to Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary that is close to one hour away from Wai. Nestled in the Western Ghats, this sanctuary forms the northern part of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. It was declared as a heritage site by UNESCO in 2011 and is home to a diverse variety of mammals {like Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, bears and Sambar deer}, birds {like heart-spotted woodpecker, brown capped pygmy woodpecker, crested goshawk} and even reptiles like pythons and king cobras as well.

The park is a protected wildlife area, and the best time to visit this place is during October, unlike summers {April-September} which are hot and the months of November to March tend to be a bit too crowded.

Essential Guide

Where to Stay: V Resorts Anandvan Wai

Outdoor Area at V Resorts Anandvan Wai

Rooms at V Resorts Anandvan Wai

Rooms at V Resorts Anandvan Wai

Outdoor Area at V Resorts Anandvan Wai

Located along the foothills of Panchgani, spread across 2.5 acres of lush green land, V Resorts Anandvan Wai is a true nature retreat. This boutique Wai resort houses five categories of boutique rooms – suites, cottages, red-brick cottages, apartments and machan rooms. Each of rooms have an attached garden adjoining the vast open spaces and are covered in coconut and mango trees, make it a true delight for nature lovers. If you are looking for a stay that combines scenic locations with modern amenities, your search is sure to end here.